Adjustable wrench



F. W. MELLARS.

ADJUSTABLE WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, I919.

I/HIHHH .MHIIHHH 1| .ii-rmwwnwlam FREDERICK W. MELLARS, OF SANFRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ADJUSTABLE WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

Application filed May 8, 1919. Serial No. 296,642.

with a fixed jaw to move a movable jaw relatively thereto; and the"objects of my invention are:

First, to provide an improved adjustable wrench;

Second, to provide an improved. adjust able wrench adapted to beactuated to tightly engage a nut or the like to facilitatethe turning ofsaid nut;

Third, to provide an improved device of the character described whereinthe handle is adapted to actuate the jaws of the wrench to rigidly andtightly engage a nut or the like;

Fourth, to provide an improved adjustable wrench adapted to utilize thefirst portion of the movement of the handle thereof to rigidly engagenut or the like and to turn said nut or other object during the remaining portion of the said movement;

Fifth, to provide an improved wrench of the type set forth that shall beadapted, by merely reversing the position of the wrench, to tighten orloosen a nut on a bolt, or a similar operation; and

'Sixth, to provide an improved wrench having improved means whereby thejaws thereof? may be easily and readily adjusted to various sizes ofnuts, rods or the like.

I accomplish these several objects by means of the device disclosed inthe draw ings, forming a part of the present specification and drawings,and in which:

Figure 1 is a broken elevation, partly in section, disclosing themechanism of my improved adjustable wrench;

Fig. 2 is a side View of the wrench; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l but disclosing the mechanism in adifferent position.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 is used to designate in generala body portion having a fixed jaw 2 thereon, and oppositely positionedinternal tongues 3 arranged laterally to said jaw 2, said tongues 3being arranged to slidably'engage grooves 4 with- 1 in opposite faces ofa movable jaw 6 whereby said movable jaw 6 may be actuated to gioyerelatively to the fixed jaw 2 on the ocy 1.

A toothed segment 7 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 8 secured'to' thebody 1 and is provided with an extension or lug 9. Links 11 arepivotally connected to the end of the extension or lug 9 and to asimilar lug 12 on the body of the movable jaw 6 as disclosed in Figs. 1and 3 of the drawings.

A suitable operating handle 14 is bifurcated at one end to pivotallyengage opposite ends of the pin 8 and on opposite sides of the body 1.

A spring controlled pawl 16 is slidably mounted within the handle 14:and is provided with a thumb piece 17 which extends beyond a slot 18 inthe handle Hand adjacentthe pawl 16 slidably mounted thereon.

The tension ofthe spring 19 normally retains the pawl 16 in engagingrelation with the toothed segment 7.

The combination of the handle 1 1, pawl 16 and toothed segment 7comprises an adjustable means for adjusting the space between the fixedand movable jaws, 2 and 6 respectively regardless of the relativeposition of said handle 14 to the fixed jaw 2.

In operation the pawl 16 is moved into engagement with one extremity ofthe segment 7 which will position the movable jaw 6 at its greatestdistance from the fixed jaw 2 as disclosed in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Bymoving the handle 14- to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig.1 of the drawings the movable jaw 6 will be actuated to first rigidlyengage a nut 20, or the like, which will then prevent farther movementof said movable jaw 6 relatively to the fixed jaw 2 consequentlypreventing farther movement of the said handle 16 relatively to the bodyv 1 and fixed jaw 2 thereon. The wrench then becomes a rigid fixed tooland farther movement of the operating handle 14 will screw the nut 20,or other article to which it may be attached, on the bolt 21.

l/Vhen the wrench has been thus turned as far as possible a reversemovement of the handle 14 will separate the movable and fixed jaws andthereby disengage the Wrench from the nut 20 when a new engagement ofthe wrench with said nut 21 may be obtained.

To unscrew the nut 20 from the bolt 21 the entire wrench is turned overwhich action will reverse thev operation of said wrench. 7

To decrease or ad ust the distance between the jaws to engage a smaller.nut the handle 14 is moved to turn and thereby expose the otherextremity of the toothed se ment 7 andthe pawl 16 is-then disengagedfrom the toothed segment 7 and the handle is moved,

without moving said segment 7 to register the pawl 16 with the desirednotch or tooth of said segment, as for instance, as disclosed in Fig.3of the drawings.

' In this mannerthejaws' are brought closer together and thereby easilyand readily adjusted to the size of the nut or article to be screwed Jorunscrewed.

' It is obvious that the range of sizes,lor the adjustability' of thespace .betweencthe jaws '2 and 6 is only limited by the number of teethor notches on'the toothed segment 7 It is also obvious from theforegoing that I have provided an improved adjustable wrench havingimproved means for adjusting the jaws to the nut or article to be turnedas well as lmproved actuatlng means for,

moving the aws to grip the nut before pressure is brought to bear torotate or turn said nut or other article. 7

Having thus describedmy invention, whz ttv nected to the fixed jaw forengaging the segment to move the movable jaw relatively to the fixed aw.i

2. An adjustable wrench comprising the combination with a fixed jaw of amovable jaw slidably connected to the fixed jaw and adapted to operatein conjunction therewith; a toothed segment pivotally connected to thefixed jaw; links connecting the movable jaw with the segment; and ahandle pivotally connected to the fixed jaw and adapted to engage thesegment to move the movable jaw relatively to the fixed jaw.

3. An adjustablewrench comprising the combination with a fixed jaw of amovable jaw slidably connected to the fixed jaw and adapted to operatein conjunction therewith; a toothed segment pivotally connected to thefixed jaw; links connecting the movable jaw with the se ment; a handlepivotally connected to the xed jaw; and a pawl slidably mounted withinthe handle and ar-- ranged to engage the toothed segment to connect thehandle thereto whereby the movable jaw may be moved relatively to thefixed jaw when said handle is moved rel- I atively to said fixed jaw.

4. An adjustable wrench comprising the combination with a fixed jaw of amovable v jaw slidably connected to the fixed jaw and adapted to operatein conjunction therewith; a toothed segment pivotally connected to thefixed jaw; linxs connecting the movable jaw with the segment; a handlepivotally con nected to the fixed jaw; a pawl slidably mounted withinthe handle and arranged to engage'the toothed segment to connect thehandle thereto whereby the movable jaw may be moved relatively to thefixed jaw when said handle is moved relatively to said fixed jaw; andmeans for disengaging the pawl from the segment. 7

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my signature.

FREDERICK w. MELLARS.

